James P. Mills
James P. Mills | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1909 |
| Died | 1987 Winchester, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Investment banker, racehorse owner, polo player, philanthropist |
| Known for | Investment banking; thoroughbred racehorse ownership; polo achievements; founding the Arthritis Foundation |
James P. Mills (1909–1987) was a prominent American figure known for his roles as an investment banker, thoroughbred racehorse owner, accomplished polo player, and philanthropist.
Early life
Mills was born in 1909 to Paul Denckla Mills and Ellen Drexel Paul, tracing his lineage back to General Samuel Miles Mills and the financier Anthony J. Drexel. He completed his education at Yale University, where he led the university’s polo team as captain during the years 1931 and 1932.
Banking career
Throughout his professional life, Mills was engaged in the field of investment banking.
Equestrian interests
He possessed several distinguished thoroughbreds such as Devil's Bag, Gone West, Believe It, Chumming, and Akureyri. His affiliations included membership in The Jockey Club, the National Steeplechase Association, and induction into the Virginia Equine Hall of Fame.
As a skilled eight-goal polo player beginning at age twenty-five, Mills competed at notable venues including the Meadowbrook Polo Club in New York and the Aiken Polo Club in South Carolina. His achievements encompass victories in prestigious tournaments like the Silver Cup (1929, 1933), the U.S. Open Polo Championship (1933), and the Monty Waterbury Cup (1933, 1936). In 1932, he represented alongside distinguished players such as Elmer Boeseke and Winston Frederick Churchill Guest in the Cup of the Americas held in Buenos Aires.
In 1936, Mills served as a reserve for the International Polo Cup team and secured titles including the Hurlingham Champion Cup, Roehampton Open Challenge Cup, and Coronation Cup with teammates Michael Phipps, Winston Guest, and Robert E. Strawbridge, Jr.
Additionally, Mills contributed articles on polo to The Sportsman. His contributions to the sport were honored posthumously with induction into the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame in Florida on February 17, 2012.
Philanthropy
Mills demonstrated a strong dedication to healthcare initiatives by establishing the Arthritis Foundation.
Personal life
In 1935, he wed Alice du Pont Mills (1912–2012). The couple had three children: Mimi Mills (who married William Abel-Smith), Phyllis Mills (wife of artist Jamie Wyeth), and James P. Mills Jr. (married to Debbie Manoog Mills).
Their family home was Hickory Tree Farm located in Middleburg, Virginia, a site recognized on the Virginia Landmarks Register. At age 37, in 1945, Mills was diagnosed with spinal arthritis.
He died in 1987 at Winchester Hospital in Winchester, Massachusetts. His memorial service took place at the Emanuel Church in Middleburg.